Holly Kim: 2026 candidate for Illinois Comptroller

Bio

Office sought: Illinois Comptroller

City: Mundelein

Age: 45

Occupation: Lake County Treasurer

Previous offices held:

Q&A

How desperate is the state's bill paying situation? What should the role of the comptroller be in terms of paying bills on time?

The Comptroller is the state’s chief fiscal watchdog, responsible for paying Illinois’ bills on time. The real power of the office is controlling the flow of funds and deciding how quickly payments are made. That matters because when Illinois tightens its belt, it matters who gets paid first and whether payments are steady and reliable.

We saw the damage when Governor Rauner allowed bills to pile up and nearly drove Illinois off a fiscal cliff. The state lost nearly $1 billion in late payment penalties, money that should have gone to essential services and the nonprofits doing critical work.

At the time, I served on the board of Hanul Family Alliance, a senior home healthcare organization. When reimbursements stopped, we faced the real possibility of shutting down.

Late reimbursements also mean fewer doctors willing to accept Medicaid. As a young mother who relied on All Kids and Medicaid, I know what it is like to drive an hour for care.

I am the only candidate with executive branch experience managing public funds. As Comptroller, protecting nonprofits, rural health and social service providers will be a top priority.

Many people in Illinois are not familiar with the comptroller's duties. What should be done to increase awareness?

Increasing awareness starts with meeting people where they already are, in their communities and online. I am the only candidate running statewide who is actively livestreaming, going on podcasts, and creating short explanation videos to break down how this office works and why it matters. That should be the standard for modern public service. Busy Illinoisans should not need a policy background or to travel to a town hall to understand how their tax dollars are managed.

At the same time, I believe in the old-school, 1990s style of public service we saw from leaders like Jesse White, who showed up everywhere and made government visible and accessible. I have already traveled across Illinois multiple times to meet residents face to face, and I will continue doing so as Comptroller.

I will combine that in-person presence with digital tools to reach people who cannot attend meetings. Livestreamed town halls, social media Q&As, podcasts, and explainer videos allow anyone to ask questions, learn how payments work, and see how fiscal decisions affect their lives. Government works best when people understand it and feel empowered to hold it accountable.

Transparency has been a focus in recent years. What would you do to continue or expand that?

Trust is built by showing up. That means being present in communities that have been overlooked, listening to people’s concerns, and building real partnerships so residents can hold you accountable once elected. Growing up, my dad, a Chamber president, always said, “You do business in person, face to face.” I took that to heart. That is why I have traveled across Illinois to meet voters where they are, work that is reflected in endorsements from County Democratic Chairs, Indivisible chapters, and elected officials statewide.

Accountability also means accessibility. Livestreamed town halls and digital outreach allow people to ask questions without transportation, time off work, or speaking in a crowded room. Government works best when people understand how services function and how public dollars are used.

Transparency means over-communicating. As Comptroller, I will publish clear benchmarks on payment timeliness, backlog reduction, and efficiency, with regular public updates. I will tell the truth, show the math, and make government work in a way people can see and trust.

There have been moves to consolidate the offices of the treasurer and comptroller, what is your opinion on that idea?

Before 1970, Illinois concentrated fiscal power in one office. The Treasurer held the money and kept the books. That system failed. After the Orville Hodge embezzlement scandal, voters acted. The 1970 Constitution split the roles into a separately elected Treasurer and Comptroller to create real checks and balances: one manages and invests funds, the other independently authorizes and tracks spending.

Combining the offices would weaken oversight and reduce transparency. At a time when trust in government is low, eliminating an independent fiscal watchdog is the wrong move.

I understand the concern. People want efficiency, less duplication, and responsible use of taxpayer dollars. We can achieve that without weakening accountability.

As the only candidate who has led a government department managing staff and billions in public funds, I know modernization and collaboration can deliver savings while protecting transparency. As Comptroller, I will strengthen oversight and ensure taxpayers get both efficiency and accountability.